pasinski



July 1-0, 1945. w. J. PASINSKI 2,380,257

I CASH REGISTER 7 Filed Feb. 12, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORI 1 ZTORNE Ys July 10, 1945. w. J. PAslNs l CASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 12, l940 9 Sheets-Sheet 3' INVENTOR BY Wa/fe/ Risinki I I m I I g I r 2 l A ATTORNEYS July 10, 1945. w. J. PASINSKI CASH REGI STER Filed Fb. 12 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORV v BY Wa/Ier J Basins/u A TTORNE Y5 July 10, 1945. w. J. PASINSKI CASH REGI STER 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 7 Filed Feb. 12, 1940 M INVENTOR Y Wd/fel Pas/ks! A TTORNEY-S July 10, 1945. w, J pAs NsKl 2,380,257

CASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 12, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 7' INVENTOR A TTORNE Ys July 10, 1945. w. J. PASINSKI 2,380,257

CASH REGISTER Filed Feb. i2, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Fig. 15.

I lu o G 70 ezunr TO'O INVENTOR July 10, 1945. w. J.- PASINSKI 2,380,257

I I CASH REGISTER I Filed Feb 12, 1940 9 Shee tS- Sheet 9 ma xfi rnz-m Fig-16 mam OOOOTT'T 17 68 Q I i 201 07; I 0 INVENTOVR 2079; Wei/fer L1 asins/ i A TTORNE Y3 Patented July 10, 1945 CASH REGISTER Walter J. Pasinski, Howell, Mich., assignor to Burroughs Adding Machine Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application February 12, 1940, Serial No. 318,501

1'7 Claims.

This invention relates to cash registers. It is more particularly concerned with akey-operated cash register that not only will print upon and feed a detail-record strip but one Which also will print and issue a check or receipt. A

Cash registers in which certain mechanisms are actuated by depression of the amount keys have been made for many years and are still on the market, such machinesbeing less expensive than motor-operated ones and being satisfactory for certain classes of work. .The big diificulty with key-operated machines has been hard and non-uniform key depression,v and this has been true even Where the machines perform no *printingfunctions. Because of this, it has not been considered feasible to add to the load on the keys and the great majority of key-operated cash registers inuse today are non-printing ma.- chines' that merely'registe'r items in a registering mechanism whose dials are visible.

Key-operated cash registers have been produced that will eitherv print on a detail-record strip that is kept in the machine or.on a check strip that is issued. But, even when these printing mechanisms were used individually, they increased the load on'the keys undesirably. As a consequence, such machines are generallymotor operated.

Present-day receipt checks issued by cashregisters must bear numerousimpressions in addition to the amount of an item, such, for example, as the name of the vendor, which may'require several lines, the number and date of the check, and some legend such as Pleasepay cashier. Obviously, the printing of allthis data requires a forcible printing impression means and the problem is not solved by a construction that will print only a few digits such as the amount of an item. Prior to the present invention, no practical and commercially acceptable key-operated cash register has been produced that will print on a detail-record strip and'feed the strip and also print and issue a modern type of check receipt.

This is because it has been considered. impossible to accomplish both results in the same key-operated machine without making the key depression so hard as to make the machine impractical and non-salable. The present invention is directed to a solution of this problem and-the result has been attained by the proper combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter described.

1 The general object of the invention is to provide an'improved key-operated cash register.

A more particular object is to provide a keyoperated cash register that not only will print on a detail-record strip but one which also will print on a check strip from a plurality of sets of type-carrying elements and issue the check.

Another object is to provide certain improvements in check printing and issuing mechanisms.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in.

the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective of a key-operated cash register embodying this invention and in which the side panel is open to illustrate the receipt printing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a right end elevation of the receipt printing mechanism with the parts in normal or home position;

Fig, 3 is a right side elevation of the receipt issuing mechanism illustrating the parts in their respective positions with a key depressed;

Fig. 4 is a cut-away perspective of the upper feeding roll and supporting shaft;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the receipt feeding rolls; Y

Fig. 6 is a detailed section through the platen roller;

Fig. '7 is a schematic view of the printing elements and the platen roller illustrating the various ositions of the latter;

Fig. 8 is a right end elevation of the machine taken inside of the rightend plate;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken farther inside the machine ,and illustrating primarily the indexing echanism of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view from the left corher of the machine and illustrates the indexin and printing mechanisms for both record and receipt printing; V

Fig. 11 is a' further detailed partial end elevation of the indexing mechanism with one key depressed and associated parts in corresponding positions; I

Fig. 121 is a spread perspective of portions of the paper feeding mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a. fragmentary detail of a portion of the printing mechanism with the parts in position with a key partially depressed;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but with the parts in position with a key partially restored;

Fig. 15il1ustrates a sample check-receipt illustrating the relation in which the imprints are made;

' Fig. 16 is a plan view of the record printing and receipt printing wheels illustrating the connections therebetween;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken through one of the printing wheels;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the consecutive numbering wheels and the date printing wheels, portions being broken away to show the telescopic GENERAL CONSTRUCTION The general features of the machine, such as the amount keys, the registering mechanism, the indicating mechanism, and the general operating means, are like those shown in my prior Patents Nos. 2,070,059 and 2,070,060 where these parts are described in detail. Only a brief description will be given here.

The cash register mechanism is carried between r'ght and left side plates (Figs. 2 and 3) which support the entire mechanism and are maintained in spaced relation by tubular members 2 and cross shafts of the cash register mechanism. The cash register operating mechanisms include two rows of depressible keys 4 of the necessary denominations, depending upon the capacity of the machine, the illustrated machine having three denominations, that is, cents, tens of cents and dollars. The keys are in fact key levers journaled on a common cross shaft 6 journaled in the end of plates I and are urged clockwise about the shaft by springs 1 (Fig. 3). Each key has a rearwardly and upwardly extending arm 9 which engages a hollow universal cross shaft ll supported at each end by .one arm of a full-stroke lever l2 secured to the shaft 6 adjacent each end thereof. The shaft I and fullstroke levers l2 constitute a universal bail which is constantly urged clockwise by springs l4 secured to horizontal portions of levers l2 (Fig. 8) the latter terminating at their upper ends in full-stroke sectors l engageable by pawls (not shown) to insure a full stroke being made at each key depression.

A key coupler- I8 is pivotally supported by shaft H and is spring urged clockwise so as to engage the keys when the coupler is released. The coupler extends across substantially the entire width of the machine and is in position to be engaged by projections l9 of the keys of all denominations, whereby any key may be partially depressed and latched to the key coupler. The universal bail and key coupler construction is more fully disclosed in my prior Patent No.

2,070,060, issued February 9, 1937, to which reference is made for further details.

The upper end of each key lever terminates in a differential cam slot 23 (Figs. 8 and 9), the different slots being. of different inclinations according to the value of the key. The keys of each denomination engage a bail 30 (Fig. 9), which extends across and is positioned to be engaged by the edges of the slots 23 of the corresponding denomination of key levers. Each bail 30 is carried by spaced arms 3| journaled on shafts 32 and is also connected to an indexing yoke 33 by forked arm 34 (Fig. 9). Each yoke 33 is differentially positioned by its ball 30 in accordance with the key depressed in its denominadenomination keys.

tion and indexes a tab magazine 35 supported thereby which carries tabs 36 bearing indicia of 1 to 9 which are raised and lowered at the proper point in the machine operation. The tab indexing and raising is accomplished as described in my prior Patent No.- 2,070,061, issued February 9, 1937, to which reference is made for further description.

A registering mechanism is provided comprising a plurality of register pinions 31, there being a group of register pinions for each group of A suitable tens-transfer mechanism is provided as described in said prior patents. The register pinions 31 are indexed by the amount keys through the denominational bails 30 and the yokes 33 (Fig. 11). Each yoke 33 has a, downwardly extending arm 33 (Fig. 11) connected through links 40 and 4| to an actuator 42 pivoted at 43 and urged clockwise by a spring, not shown. Each actuator is in mesh with an operating gear 49 (Fig. 11) for its register pinion, said gear carrying a spring pressed pawl 53 positioned to engage studs 54 carried by a gear 55 that is connected to its register pinion When an amount key is depressed, the bail 30 in the denomination of said key is moved forward (Fig. 11) an amount corresponding to the digital value 01' the key depressed. This rocks the bail 33 clockwise and thrusts the links 40 and 4| forward to rock the actuator 42 counterclockwise. This rotates the gear 49 clockwise, at which time the pawl 53 passes over the studs 54 without causing any rotation of gear 55. When the amount keys are released, they are restored to normal by springs, at which time a restoring bail 56 (Fig. 11) returns the yoke 33 and the links 40 and 4| to normal, thereby moving the actuator 42 clockwise. This movement of the actuator rotates the gear 43 counterclockwise and the pawl 53, acting on one of the studs 54, rotates the gear 55 and the corresponding register pinion an amount corresponding to the value of the key depressed. For further details, reference is made to my prior Patent No. 2,070,062, February 9, 1937, andHorton No. 1,326,504, December 30, 1919.

All the above-described mechanisms, including the registering mechanism, the indicator mechanism, and the universal bail and key coupler with associated parts comprising the general operating means, are operated by power derived from depression of the amount keys, and they are of such a nature and are so arranged that the load on the keys is exceptionally light and substantially uniform throughout their full movement, as described in the prior patents referred to.

DETAIL-RECORD STRIP PRINTER Provision is made for printing items as well as totals on a detail-record strip which remains in the machine. Item printing is performed by power derived from depression of the amount keys, but totals are printed by means or a total lever. The record strip normally occupies a position where the last printed item is visible through an opening in the face plate of the machine (Fig. 1) and, during each machine operation, the paper is-moved from this position to a printing position, after which it is returned to where the currently printed item is visible, a line-spacing operation occurring automatically. The detail-record strip printer is described in detail in my copending application Serial No. 306,340, filed November 27,

- plate I 1939, now Patent 2,249,224, and it will be described onlybriefly here. A

Referring to Fig. 8, a'plurality of type-carrying elements are provided in the form-f typewheels 68 (Figs. and 16) rotatably mounted on a shaft 69 carried by the right-hand side plate I of the machine, the type wheels being on the inside of said side plate. These type wheels are indexed by the amount keys'as presently will be described. The detail-record strip P is in the form of a continuous paper strip fed from a supply roll 66 rotatably mounted in the lower arms of a pair of bell crank levers 66 pivoted on the shaft 66 carried by two small detachable side plates 6|. These side plates, together with the parts carried by them, which presently will be described, constitute a detachable unit that may-be readily removed from the machine. The side plates 6| rest on the shaft (Fig. 8) and the unit may be rocked forward about this shaft by pulling on the hand piece 6P after which said unit can be easily lifted out. The detail strip P passes from the supply roll 66 under a stationary guide shaft 66, across the printing line of the type wheels 68, about a stationary guide shaft 66 over a stationary paper table II and over a stationary guide 66 to where it is wound on a storage reel 12 rotatably mounted in the upper arms of the bell cranks 66 said guides and paper table being carried by the detachable side plates 6| and being located around the periphery of the detachable unit. The bell cranks carrying the storage and supply spools are urged clockwise to the position of Fig. 8 by a spring, not shown, but each time the machine is operated, said bell cranks are rocked counterclockwise, whereupon the record strip is slid over the stationary guides and paper table to a printing position relative to the printing line of the type wheels, after which said strip is returned to normal. In the normal position of the record strip, the last'printed entry is visible right-side-up through a window 10 (Fig. 1) in the face plate of the machine and it is the item immediately above the lower edge of the opening. As the bell cranks 66 are rocked counterclockwise du'ring depression of the amount keys, a pawl 15 engages one of the teeth of a ratchet wheel 16 connected to the storage reel 12, and rotates said reel sufficiently to line space the record strip so that the next entry will be in proper position with relation to the prior one. If desired, the strip may be manually line spaced by means of a depressible key l5 (Fig. 8).

The bell cranks 66 are rocked to move the record strip from visible to printing position and return by means of a lever 1! pivoted on a stud 1B fixed to the inside of the right-hand side This arm has a cam slot 19 engaging a roller stud B0 on the end of one of the bell cranks 66 Bi engaging over a bail 82 carried by a pair of arms 63 journaled on the shaft 6, said arms being positioned in front of the universal bail H and urged clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8 by springs 84. When the amount keys are depressed and the universal bail H is moved forward, the arms 83 with the bail 82 are also moved forward. This rocks the arm 11 clockwise and the cam slot 19, acting on the roller stud an, rocks the bell cranks 66 counterclockwise to slide the record strip over the stationary guides and the paper table to printing position and automatically line spaces it. When the amount keys are released, the springs 84 return the bail 82 to normal, whereupon the arm 11 is rocked counterclockwise to restore the The rear end of said arm 1'! has a cam slot bell cranks 66 with the storage and supply spools to normal, which slides the record strip P to a position where the currently printed item is visible. This arrangement enables the parts to be moved with a verylight key depression as explained in more detail in said copending application. Mounted on the shaft 66 carried by the detachable side plates 6i is a printing impression means in the form of a printing hammer platen 61. This hammer is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. 8, slightly above the type wheels 68, by means of a spring 61 The printing hammer is cooked by means of an arm stud 86 on one of the arms 83.

85 pivoted on the bail 82 and urged clockwise against a stud 85 on one of the side plates 6| by a spring 85. The forward end of the arm constitutes an abutment positioned to engage a stud 6'! on an arm of the printing hammer bail.

engages the stud Bi and rocks the printing hammer clockwise, which tensions the spring 67 Near the'end of the key depression, the arm 65 is cammed by thestud to a position to release the hammer, whereupon it is suddenly moved, or fired by the spring 6D to make a printing impression, said hammer being immediately retracted to its normal position.

Only three type wheels are used for item entering, although there is a total of seven type wheels. All seven wheels are used in total printing and the four wheelsother than the item type wheels will be called the extra type wheels; The four extra type wheels normally have blank spaces at the printing line as" explained in said copending application. In'item printing operations, the printing hammer 61 is cooked only sufliciently to enable it to be fired with a force that will give a clear'printing impression from the three type wheels and thus, in normal operations, a minimum force is required for making the printing impressions.

In taking totals, the detail strip printer is operated by means of a total lever 59 (Figs. 9 and 10) pivoted on a shaft 59*. Pivoted tothe lower part of the lever 59 is a link 86 (Fig. 8), provided with a slot 86 'in which is positioned a This slot is of such a length that, when the arms 83 are moved forward by depression of the amount keys, the

stud 85 moves in the slot 86 without affecting the link 86. When the total lever 59 is pulled forwardin a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 8).

forward. This moves the bail 82 forward to actuate the arm H to move the record strip and said bail also moves the arm 85 forward into engagement with the stud 61 to cook the printing hammer. In total-taking operations, it is necessary to obtain an imprint from all seven of the type wheels, and in order that a clear impression may be made, the spring 61 of the hammer 6'! is stretched to a greater degree in order that the hammer 61 may be fired with greater force. This is accomplishedby means of a projection 59 on the total lever 59 (Fig. 8) which engages a stud 61 on a three-armed member 61 pivoted on the shaft 66. This engagement occurs prior to the release of the hammer 6! from the arm 85 and it results in rocking the printing hammer 67 farther clockwise than when the amount keys are depressed. Near the end of the forward movement of the total lever 58, the printing hammer is released, whereupon it is fired with greater force to print the total. The long leverage of the total lever makes the parts easy to operate and the arrangement provided enables a clear impression to be obtained without, however, placing any load on the amount keys, which, when operated, need operate the printingmechanism only with sufficient force to make an impression from the three item type wheels.

The actual impression on the record strip is made by means of an ink ribbon R (Fig. 8) extending over guides on a frame 95 which also carries two ribbon spools 96 and 9?. The frame 95 is readily detachable, being hooked over a shaft 95* carried by the right-hand side plate I of the machine and resting on the shaft 69 carrying the type wheels. The ribbon R. is fed during machine operations by a pawl and ratchet mechanism designated generally as 95 which mechanism is provided with. a ribbon re'verse device designated generally as 95. These parts are described in more detail in said copending application.

The type wheels 68 are indexed for item and total printing by means of mechanism shown more particularly in Figs. 9, l and 11. One of each of the pairs of arms 3I that carry the denominational bails 30 is provided with a downwardly extending projection I I9 having a toothed sector I20 onits lower face (Fig. 10). Each sector normally meshes with a sector I2I rockably mounted on a shaft I22 carried by the side frames nected by a link I28 to a toothed segment I29 1 journaled on a shaft I29 The teeth of the segments I 29 mesh with the teeth of the item type Wheels 68 as shown in .Fig. 10. From this it will be understood that, when an amount key is depressed and its denominational bail 30 moved, the corresponding arm II9 will be moved to an extent depending upon the value of the key.

This will correspondingly move the sector I2I, the gear I23, the gear I26, the gear I2'I, the sector I29 and the corresponding "item type wheel 68. Thus, the item type wheels are indexed directly from the amount keys.

In total printing, it is necessary to disconnect the item type wheels from the amount keys and to index all the type wheels under the control of the registering mechanism. This is accomplished automatically by the movement of the total lever 59. Referring to Fig. 10, the hub I00 of the total-taking lever 59, which is pivoted on shaft 59 carries a stud IOI operating in a cam slot in a member I02 slidably mounted on shaft 59 The member I02 is connected by a suitable shaft I03 and sleeves I04 to three arms I05 whose rear ends are forked and connected to the hubs of the sectors I2I so as to be able to slide said sectors laterally. As the total lever .59 i pulled forward, the stud I01 acting inthe cam slot in member I 02 moves the arms I05 laterally to slide the three sectors I 2I laterally to disconnect them from the toothed sectors I20. Thus, as the total lever is moved forward, the item type wheels are disconnected from the amount keys.

In order that the four extra type wheels used in total taking may be indexed, four sectors I2I are journaled on the shaft I22. These sectors mesh with respective igears I23? fixed to shafts shaft carries on itsright-hand end agear I26 meshing with a corresponding gear I21. The gears I 21 are connected by links I28 with toothed sectors I29 that mesh with the respective-four extra type wheels used in total printing. I

Journaled on the shaft I22 are three arms I40 (Figs. 10 and 11) carrying studs I38, said arms being urged clockwise in Fig. 10 by springs MI. The sectors I2I carry similar studs I38 (Fig. 10) to which springs I4I are attached for urging the sectors I2-I clockwise in; Fig. 10. The arms I40 and sectors I 2 I B .are normally prevented from moving by a series ofrestoring arms I42 fixed to the shaft I22. The studs I38 are normally disengaged from thesectors I2I that control the item pinions. Said sectors I2I have openings I39 for the reception of the studs I38, said openings being positioned one step awayv from the studs. The total lever 59 carries a stud I41 (Fig. 10) operating in a cam slot I48 in a pivoted member I49whichhasa forked extension I52 engaging a studon a crank I54 fixed to the sh'aft I22. The arrangement is such that, when the total lever 59 is pulled forward, the shaft I22-is rocked clockwise (Fig. 10) and the arms I 40 are rocked in the same direction to release the arms I40 for th'e item sectors I2I, and to release the sectors I2I for the extra type wheels, whereupon the sectors I2 I immediately start to move under the urge of the springs I4I The arms I40 also start to move and the parts are timed so that these arms move one step after which the item" sectors I2I are moved laterally to move the openings in said sectors over thestuds I38 carried by arms I40. This timing is controlled by the shape of the cam slot in the member I49, and i explained in more detail in my said copending application Serial N 0. 306,340. In'this manner, the extra type wheels are brought into proper alignment with the item type wheels for printing. y

In order that all the type wheels may be positioned in accordance with the total in the registering mechanism the register pinions are pro- .Wise about their pivots as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. Each member I62 is connected by a link I66 to a member I61 (Fig. 11) pivoted at 43. Each member I6'I as a series of notches I68 in it corresponding to thedigital positions of its register pinion. These notches arepositioned in the path of the respective studs I38 and I38 in the respective orders. The result is that, when the arms I40 with the studs I 38'for the item" type Wheels, and the studs I38 for the extra type wheels, are released by the total-taking lever for movement, said arms and sectors move to positions determined b the notches in members I68 that, in turn. are positioned in accordance with the amount in the register. Consequently, the

sectors I2I and I2I will be moved distances corresponding to the amount in the register and the type wheels connected to these sectors will be moved a corresponding amount. In other words, the type wheels arepositioned in accordance with the amount in the registering mechanism. After the type wheels are positioned, the printing hammer 61 is released as heretofore explained and the total is printed,after which the total lever is returned to normal and the parts above explained are likewise returned to normal. Further details of the total printing mechanism are described in said application Serial No. 306,340.

It is to be noted that the detail strip printer is mounted between the main side plates I of the machine, and within the body of the machine, but that the main portion of the mechanism is located at the right-hand side of the machine and on the inside of the right-hand side plate. There is ample space at the right-hand side of the keyoperated non-printing register to add the detail strip printer toa non-printing machine without requiring that the side plates be spaced difierently or that there be any essential changes in the general mechanism of the machine. This is important from a production standpoint and is also important in combination with the receiptcheck printer as will presently appear, and particularly because of the ready accessibility of the detail strip printer.

A previously explained, the storage and supply rolls, as well as the guides and paper table for the detail strip and the printing impression hammer,are all carried by the detachable side plates GI. These parts constitute a detachable unit which may be quickl removed from a ma chine by pulling forward on the handle 6| (Fig. 8) and lifting out the section. When the section is lifted out, a new supply roll may be easily put in position, and the new paper strip may be quickly placed in operative position by winding it around the outside of the unit. The guides, the table, and the parts over which the strip slides are near the periphery of the unit so that the placing of the paper in operative position amounts to little more than turning it around the unit and fastening it to the storage roll. If it is desired to replace the ink ribbon or to adjust its mechanism, the ink ribbon unit "can be easily removed. Thus, while the detail strip printer is mounted in a recess within the body of the machine, it has been constructed so that it is readily acessible. This is important in combination with the check-receipt printer because if the detail strip printer were mounted on the outside of the side plate, therewould then be no place for the receipt printer. Or, if another side plate were added to carry the check-receipt printer, then the detail strip printer would be inaccessible, a condition that is highly undesirable.

RECEIPT-CHECK PRINTER The'receipt-check printer has its various elements so constructed and arranged that they may be connected to the other mechanisms of the machine and yet bemounted on the outside of the right-hand side plate I. This not only puts them in an accessible position but it also enables the receipt printer to be added to the main body of the machine and combined with it without requiring any changes in the main body. It is simply necessary to add the receipt printer and provide a housing that is slightly wider than that used when the cash register is provided without the receipt printer.

A commercially acceptable receipt-check of the present day must contain data other than the amount of the purchase. Such checks should contain the name of the proprietor or his business concern, the date, the number of the check. the amount of the purchase and some legend such as Please pay cashier. The data, such as the proprietors name and Please pay cashier does not change and, hence, can be printed best from a plate such as an electroplate or"electro. But this plate must be of considerable size and,

F casting and the formation of characters.

quite obviously, considerable force is required to make a printing impression from it; and additional force is required to print from the item wheels and from date and consecutive numlbering devices. So far as known, no successful keyoperated cash register has ever been made that will print both on a detail-record strip and on a check from a plurality of sets of type-carrying elements of the character described, and issue the check. In the present invention, the proper combination and arrangement of parts has been achieved to obtain this result with a ver light and uniform key depression. In fact, the addition of the receipt printer to the cash register having. a detail strip printer increases the force required for key depression by only about two pounds.

The various type-carrying elements will be explained first, after which the printing mechanism proper and the check strip handling equipment will be described.

a. Item type-carrying elements 'The item type-carrying elements are in the form of three item type wheels 20I (Figs. 2, 3

- end of the shaft 69 is carried by a very small side plate 20!] (Figs. 2 and 3) which is attached to the main side plate, I by pins orbolts that permit it to be easily attached. This plate carries certain others of the type-carrying elements as will pres ently appear. The item? type wheels 68 (Fig. 16) are carried by nested sleeves which extend to the right in order that they may be detachably connected to similar nested sleeves I39 carrying the item type wheels 2M for the check-receipt printer. The two sets of sleeves have interlocking shoulders 69 operatively connecting them together. In this manner the check-receipt type wheels 2llI can be easily attached to the machine and connected to the record strip type wheels so that both sets of type wheels will be indexed by the amount keys.

It will be observed that the type wheels 20I of the check printing group are arranged differently from those of the detail-strip, printing group. This is to getthe printing impression in the right position on the detail strip and the check respectively. The printing line for the detail-record stripwheels is at the top while that for the receipt printing wheels is at the bottom of the group.

It will be observed that the two groups of type wheels are indexed by direct connection with the toothed sectors I29 (Fig. 10) as contrasted with the usual construction where the toothed sectors engage steel gears that, in turn, are connected through shafts or other partsto the type wheels. The type wheels are preferably die-cast and made of relatively soft metal which facilitates the die- The same teeth that bear the characters form the teeth that engage the sectors I29; The two sets of type wheels have an appreciable mass which must be started and stopped rather suddenly in indexing. This offers no problem where the indexing sectors engage separate steel gears, but, where the structure is simplified by eliminating these gears and operating on the type wheels directly, it is liable to cause undesirable wear on the soft metal wheels. To prevent this, the wheels are cast about a steel insert I30 (Fig. 17). This insert is positioned so that it does not interfere with the formation of the characters on the ends of the b. Legend-carrying plate Several legends, such'as the name of the proprietor and the words Please pay cashier, and any other printed matter that may be desired, are printed by means of a printing plate 203 which is supported by the small side plate 200 as shown in Fig. 2. The plate 203 is slightly arc-shaped as v illustrated in Fig. '7 for a purpose that will be later described. It is generally made by an electroplating process and is sometimes called an electroplate or an electro.

0. Date type-carryingeiements Immediately to the rear of the legend printing plate 203 are six type wheels 204rotatab1ymounted on a shaft 204 (Figs. 2 and 18) fixed to the side plate I and extending through an opening in the small side plate 200. The three right-hand wheels 204 (Fig. 18) are used for printing the date, one of the wheels carrying letters indicating the month, and the other two being tens and units wheels for days of the month. These three date wheels are carried by telescopically concentric shafts 205 (Fig. 18) that are mounted on shaft 1 and which extend through the small plate 200 where they carry three date indexing disks 206 by means of which the date wheels' may be set. The date Wheels are retained in adjusted positions by detents comprising spring urged pawls 202 (Fig. 20) contacting ratchet wheels .204 fixed to the respective date wheels 204. l

d- Consecutive numbering. mechanism The check receipts are'consecutivel numbered by means of the three left-hand type wheels 204 shown in Fig. 18. These wheels are rotatably mounted on the shaft 204*- and automatically advanced toregi'ster a unit each time a check is issued by the means that Jactuatesfeeding mechanism that advances the check-strip.

Referring to Fig. 19, each consecutive numberingwheel 204 has fixed toit a ratchet wheel 204 whose rotation in 'afoounterclo'ckwise direction is prevented by a spring-jhelcl detent pawl 202 The ratchetwheels 2049 are advanced by three fingers 2131 (Fig. 18) on a member 201 ation to actuate the check strip feeding mechanism presently to be described. 'The crank 20'! is first rocked counterclockwise by the lower stud 208 (Fig. 2) near the end of the amount key depression and then said bell crank 201 isrocked clockwise near the end of the machineoperation by the upper stud.'208. As the bell crank 201 is rocked counterclockwise, the fingers 201 ride over the ratchet wheels'204. :Upon' the clockwise movement of bell crank 201 the fingers 2111. selectively advance the ratchet wheels 2049 to increase the registration on the consecutive numbering wheels by one unit. The finger'201 for the units numbering wheel operates to move said Wheel one step each time the bell crank 201 is rocked. The units order ratchet wheel 204 contains a deep notch 204 as shown in Fig. 19 which, when the units wheel moves to its tenth position, allows the units order finger .201" to move clockwise about its pivot201 (Fig. 19) under the urge of its spring farther than it can move in the other positions of the units wheel. This lowers the fingers 201 to a position to permit the tens finger 201 to engage one of the notches in the ratchet for the tens order wheel. the finger for the tens order being the middle finger shown in dotted lines in Fig, 19. Accordingly, upon the next rocking movement of bell crank 201 the tens Wheel will be advanced a unit. Said tens wheel will be advanced only one step, however, because, when the ratchet Wheel 204 for the units orderis moved to its next position, the nextshallow notch in the units wheel will raise the fingers to a position such that only the unit-s finger is active for another nine steps. When the tens ratchet wheel moves to its tenth position, the fingers can drop down still farther so that the hundreds finger, which is the top finger in dotted lines in Fig. 19, will be active to move the hundreds ratchet wheel one step. Thus, the necessary tens transfers are efiected so that the consecutive numbering mechanism will properly register the consecutive numbers up to and including three digits.

The date and the consecutive number type wheels, being grouped together, will be called the data type-carrying elements in order to distinguish them from the item type wheels and the legend-carrying plate 203. If desired, a dash may be printed between the date and the consecutive number by the use of a disk 204' (Figs. 18 and 20) positioned between the two groups of type wheels 204. While a date and a consecutive number are the things usually desired, these data type-carrying elements can, of course, be

formed with type to print other data if desired. e. Printing impression mechanism In order that clear printing impressions may be made from ah the type-carrying elements necessary for printing on a'receipt-check, a novel form of printing impression mechanism has been provided which is constructed, arranged and combined with the rest of the machine in such a way that the necessary impressions may be made without greatly increasing the force necessary for key depression; added to which certain other advantages and new results are obtained.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 6 and '7, a rubber-faced roller platen 210 is rotatably mounted on the end of a relatively long arm 212, said arm being made of two pieces formed together as illustrated in Fig. 6. The arm 212 is pivoted at "its lower end on the pivot 2l3 which is below the type-carrying elementsand On a line that intersects the row of. type-carrying elements substantially at the center of the row from'front to rear. The roller platen thus swings in an are having a long radius and the sets of type-carrying elements are positioned to correspond as will be evident from 'Fig. '7. The roller platen 2| 0 is mounted on the arm 212 so that it may be easily adjusted to vary the intensity of the printing impressions and also so that it is self-aligning to give uniform impressions from all the type. For this purpose, the roller is mounted On a shaft 2 (Fig. 6) adjustably fixed in the end of the arm 212, The shaft has a centrally located eccentric rib 2ll having a slightly larger diameter than theremainder of the shaft. The roller 2) has an internal bore whose diameter is substantially equalto that of the rib 2ll This mounting enables the roller platen to rock slightly about it central support to adapt itself to the faces of all the type. To adjust the roller to vary the intensity of the printing im'pressions' the shaft 2 is turned slightly to thereby change the position of the eccentric rib 2H, the shaft being locked in place by a nut on itsend. This provides a Y simple, inexpensive mounting that ing of the roller platen 2 ID on a long pivoted arm such as the arm 212- enables the platen to be moved across the type with a minimum force as nevertheless gives the required degree of adjusttension 22lhooked over the universalbail II, p

which bail extends to the right through a slot 22% in the right-hand side plate 1, this being the usual construction as shown in Pasinski 2,070,059. The arm 223 has a forward extension 222 connected by a spring 223 to a lug 224 on th rear end of a link 22.6. The link 226 is slidably mounted on a stud 2 25 carried by arm 228 and saidlink extends forwardto where it is pivotally connected by a stud 221 to the upperarm of a bell crank 228 pivotedon shaft 2M. The stud 221 is positioned ina $101; 229 in' the arm 2:2,. thes1ot'229 being provided to enable the partsto have the required relative movement due to the fact that the arm 2 l2 swings about a pivot, and has a vertical motion as will be explained. y

Printing impressions must not occur until after the type-carrying elements have ,been indexed, and the item type1wheels are not indexed until near the end of depression of the amount keys. To properlytime the parts and also to obtain .newand improved operation, the movement of the arm, 2 I2 with its .roller platen 2H1 is prevented until the very last portion of the amount key'depression by a bell crank latch 235 (Fig. 2) pivotedon' a stud, 236 on the side plate 1, said latch having a shoulder 23'! on its forwardly projecting arm which normally is positioned in front of a lug 238 on the link 223, the latch being urged clockwise by a spring 235 The upper arm of the bell crank latch 235 is positioned in the path of' the actuating. arm 22!) so that, just as said arm reaches the limit of its forward movement, it strikes said latch235 and rocks it counterclockwise lFigs. 2, and 3) to release the link 225 (Fig. 3).

'With the above construction, when the universal bail ll is moved forward by depression of the amount keys, the actuating arm 22!) is rocked forward and the spring 223 gradually tensioned. Near the end of movement of arm 220, latch 235 is released whereupon the spring 223 suddenly moves the link 226 and the arm 2l2 with the platen roller 2 l0 forward to thereby quickly roll the platen 2l0,a,cross the sets of type-carrying elements,the full force of the spring 223 then being available for the purpose. The arm 2i2 carries a rubber bumper 2l5 that limits against a stud 2l6 on the side plate I- This action enables clear printing impressions to be quickly made at the proper time without placing a heavy and non-uniform load on the keys. The "mountdistinguished from constructions in which the roller platen must be forced through cam slots or otherwise operated by parts that require considerable force. Theuse of a roller platen as distinguished'from a hammer or pressure mechanism also enables the printing impressions to be made with a minimum force as distinguished from the relativelylarge force that would be required with such devices to makeprinting impressions from all the sets of type-carrying elements necessary in modern check-receipt printing. Instead of suddenly placing a load on the amount keys to operate the printing mechanism, the spring 223 isgradually tensioned during almost the entire key depression, with the result that no undesired peaks of resistance are encountered during depression of the keys through their full stroke. Yet,'when the printing mechanism must be operated, the maximum force is available. At the beginning of the action of the spring, the roller platen is not in contact with any type. Thus, not much force is required to start movement of the platen arm. This arm, together with the associated parts operated by the link 225, gathers momentum before the roller platen engages the data type elements and this momentum assists in carrying the roller platen over said elements. The same action occurs between the sets of type-carrying elements, the momentum of the parts giving a fiy-wheel type of eliect and assisting in uniform operation as well as making the force required a minimum.

The above-described combination and arrangement of parts has contributed very largel to making check-receipt printing of the type described possible in a key-operated machine. I

. The actual printing impressions are made by means-of an ink ribbon 320 shown in Fig. 2. This ribbon passes from a spool 32| around guide shafts 325 and 326, beneath the sets of type-carrying elements, and about a guide shaft 321 to another spool ,322. The ribbon reels 32S and 322 are moved step by step by arms 323 and 324 that are actuated during each machine operation by an extension of the arm 95 (Figs. 2 and 8) that operates the ribbon Of the detail strip printer. A ribbon reverse 325 (Fig. 2) similar to that of the detail strip printer is also provided.

After the printing impressions have been made, the platen roller 216 is returned to normal while out of engagement with the type-carrying elements and this is done in a manner such that a minimum force is required, the force available being that of springs that are gradually tensioned during amount key depression. If considerable force were required, the amount key depression would be made correspondingly hard. To accomplish the result, the pivot 2l3 of the arm 2l2 is made in the form of an eccentric rockably mounted on a shaft 2M carried by the side plate I. Normally this eccentric pivot occupies the position shown in Fig. 2 but, after printing impressions have been made, the pivot is rocked to the position of Fig. 3 which lowers the platen roller below the type-carrying elements. The lower end of the actuating arm 220 carries a stud 245 (Fig. 2) positioned between two solssor arms 246 and 246 that are pivoted on the shaft 6 and urged toward one another by a spring 241. Also positioned between these scissor arms is a stud 24-8 on the end of a lever 25!] pivoted on astud 251 on the side plate I and extending forward adjacent the eccentric pivot 2l3 where said lever is provided with a hooked end 252 having a slot engaging a stud 253 on a crank arm 254 connected to the pivot 2l3. As the actuating arm 220 is moved forward by depression of the amount keys, the stud 245 tends to rock the scissors 246-246 counterclockwise to thereby rock the lever 2*50 clockwise to move the eccentric pivot 2I3 to the position of Fig. 3. Such movement is temporarily prevented, however, by a diamond-shaped stud 256 on the actuating arm 220, which stud moves down into the path of a lug 251 on an upwardly projecting arm of the lever 250 as shown in Fig. 13. This occurs immediately upon the counterclockwise movement of actuating arm 220 with the result that the for ward movement of said arm moves the scissors arm 246 downward while the arm 246 is blocked by the stud 248 (Fig. 13), thus tensioning spring 241. Near the end of the forward movement of the actuating arm 220, the stud 266 passes beyond the lug 251, whereupon the lever 260 is released. The spring 241, acting on the scissors arm 246 quickly rocks the lever 2'50 clockwise to turn the eccentric pivot 2l3 from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3 to thereby instantly lower the roller platen 210. The platen roller is thus free of the type-carrying elements. Very little force is then required to return the parts to normal as the roller platen is free and the parts are mounted so that only the swinging of long levers is involved, The return is accomplished by the universal bail II to which the actuating arm 220 is hooked, the universal bail being returned by the springs 84 nd I4 shown in Fig. 8, which are tensioned during amount key depression and which act on arms 83 and I2 that engage bail ll.

As the actuating arm 220 returns to normal, the diamond-shaped stud 256 passes over the lug 251 as illustrated in Fig. 14, thereby blocking the lever against counterclockwise movement. The return movement of arm 220 moves the scissors arm 246 clockwise, but movement of arm 246 is prevented .by stud 248, with the result that the spring 241 is again tensioned. Near the end of the return movement of actuating arm 226, the stud 256 passes beyond the lug 251, whereupon the lever 250 is released and the spring 241, acting on scissors arm 246, rocks the lever 250 counterclockwise to thereby return the eccentric pivot M3 to its Fig. 2 position. This moves the roller platen upward again to normal where it is ready for another forward movement to make printing impressions. In its normal position, however, the platen roller 2H] is slightly back of the data type-carrying elements so there is ample space between said roller and said elements to permit a check strip to be easily inserted between them.

A further control of the lever 250 is provided in order to coordinate the rocking of the eccentric 213 with the position of the roller platen.

210. For this purpose a latch 260 (Fig. 2) is provided which is pivoted at 26| to the side frame I and urged counterclockwise against a limit stud 262 by a spring 263, in which position the latch overlies the forward end 264 of the lever 250 as shown in Fig. 2. This latch prevents clockwise movement of the lever 250 until the link 226 has moved forward to a position where the platen roller 2) has finished making the printing impressions. Near the end of the movement of the link 226, the arm 228 engages the latch 260 and rocks it clockwise until it clears the upper end of the projection 264 of lever 260. Thus, the lever 250 cannot move until the arm 212 carrying the platen roller has moved to make printing impressions. On thereturn of the parts to normal, the latch 260 is released, but it does not interfere with the return of the lever 250 counterclockwise to normal, as the upper end 264 of said lever is shaped so that it will pass the latch.

Check strip mechanism The check strip comes in the form of a large supply roll R wound on a small wooden spool that is rotatably mounted on a stud 210 supported by the right side plate I of the machine. It is highly desirable, in a machine of this kind, to have as large a supply of check strip as possible in order that the operator need not be constantly replenishing the supply. One of the advantages of the present invention is that an unusually large check strip supply roll may be used. This is due to the location of the supply roll and to the manner in which the strip is taken from the roll such that the size and weight of the roll does not make the force required for key depression unduly hard nor interfere with proper operation. The paper used is preferably about .003" thick and this enables .a roll to be used that is between 650 and 700 feet long, a length greatly in excess of any capacity heretofore possible.

The check strip passes from the supply roll over the roller platen 2 l 0., and under the ink ribbon 320 which is directly beneath the sets of typecarrying elements 68, 203 and 204, from where it passes to a check strip feeding means presently described. In order to pull a supply of check strip from the roll, it is necessary to start the roll rotating, which requires an appreciable amount of force. The strip cannot be fed to a check issuing position until after printing occurs and printing does not occur until near the end of key depression which means that the force available for moving the check strip is that of the return of the machine to normal under the urge of springs, and these springs must be as weak as is possible in order not to increase the force necessary for key depression. Also, after rotation of the roll has been started, it tends to keep on rolling which, if allowed to occur, would cause an undesired amount of check strip to be unwound from the roll. To prevent this, a brake for the supply roll is usually provided, but if the check strip is jerked off the supply roll immediately after the printing operation, a rather firm brake must be used on the roll, which means further load on the amount keys. This problem has been solved by a very simple construction that not only promotes ease and uniformity of operation but which also makes it possible to eliminate numerous guides and tension devices that otherwise are necessary to keep the paper taut across the printing line. The improvement also makes the check strip much more accessible than in prior constructions as will presently appear.

Referring to Fig. 2, a long arm 215 is pivoted on the stud 236, said arm being positioned fairly close to the side plate I and carrying a long stud 215 on its upper end projecting outward and positioned above the check strip as shown in Fig. 2. Also pivoted on the stud 236 is a member 216 having a slotted end astride a stud 211 on the actuating arm 220. The member 216 carries a stud 216 positioned under the edge of the arm 215 and connected to this stud is a spring 218 whose upper end is connected to a stud carried by the arm 215 This provides a'yielding connectionbetween the arm Z'ltand, the arm 215?.

When'the actuating arm 22-11 is rocked forward, the stud 21]" rocks the; member 216 clockwise and said arm, actingthrough the spring 218,, rocks the arm. 215 clockwise. Upon the return movement of the arm 2-20,, its stud 21! returns the member 216 counterclockwise, whereupon the stud 216 engages the edge of the arm Z'IB and' restoresit to normal.

It will be recalled that the, actuating arm 220 is rocked forward by depression of the amount keys. Accordingly, during; depression of the amount keys, the arm; 2.115%.is rocked clockwise from itsfu-ll-line to-itsdot-dash position of Fig. 2. As this occurs, the; stud, 2 15 011, the upper end of said arm enga esth-evchcck; strip and; slowly pulls a quantity; of strip: from. theroll R as illustrated in- Fig. 3. A friction brake, 2-.H for the supply roll is provided, to prevent overrunning, but, because the strip. is pulledofif, slowly during key depression, the-brake need: not. be as great as if the strip.- were-jerked offitlle rollat; the time'the check is issued. The brake comprises-a spring member 21. l pivoted; 011a stud 2:125 onthe side frame I, the brak beingu-rged counterclockwise in Fig. 2 by a spring, 2-13. The brakehasside lugs 214 that tend to hold the supplyrol-l' in position, on the stud zmasz well as to apply-a;certain amount of friction to prevent over-rotation of the roll.

The pulling. actiorron the check strip by the arm 21:5 with its studl'lfiis against the grip of the check. feeding; mechanism described later which holds the forward end of the strip. The pull is also against the inertia of the supply roll R and: theresistancerot thefriction brake 21L Several important results; follow. First, a. quantity of check strip, is pulled slowly from the supply roll while theamount keys; are being depressed, and substantially throughout the entire key depression so that the force required for the operation is distributed. Since this does not require rapid rotation of the supply roll, the brake 21 I: need notbe as; strong as if the check strip: were jerked ofi suddenly; In addition, the pull of the stud 215: on the check strip} against the grip of the feed rolis at the; front of the machine pulls the. strip tau-t across the printing lines of the several type-carrying elements, which is a highly desirable condition for uniform impressions. As shown in Fig. 3, the platen; roller 2 I Uis in its forward position but, at the time printing impressions start, said roller is; in its rear position and the pull of the stud 2.15: on the check strip pulls said strip to! a taut and substantially horizontal position under the type-carrying elements as will be clear by referring to; Fig. 2. This eliminates the necessity for guides and for a spring tension device to maintain.- the paper taut across the printing line during printing impressions, which devices have; heretofore been necessary, particularly with hammerimpression printing. And the elimination. of'these guides and tension devices makes; the cheek. strip much more accessible and easier to placev in position when a new supply roll is. placed: in the machine. Practically no resistance is. oiiered to the initial movement of the amount keys because there is always a slight slack in thecheck strip; and the first. movement of the arm Z-lfieis to take. up-this small slack, after which. the amount keys having started in their movement and gained momentum, the arm 215 begins to tighten the check strip and gradually pull it from the supply roll.

It. is tobenoted that the; pull on the strip is exerted directly on the roll and tangentially thereto. This requires much less force than if the strip had to be pulled off the roll by the *forward pull of the feeding mechanism, in which case the strip would have to. be turned; half way or more around a guide which would have the effect of putting a bight inthe strip. In such event, a small resistance by the roll has: to be overcome. by a very heavy feeding pull.

The spring 2.18 between the member 216 and the arm Zlfi insures a uniform pulling action on the check strip. For example, if the amount keys are depressed too suddenly, the spring 218 will yield and prevent the producing. of too much slack in the strip. This. also makes possible the employment of a weaker brake on the spool. If the. paper were jerked from the spool, the brake would. have to be. strong enough to offset the jerk. Also, this arrangement isself-compensating as between large and small size rolls, each roll gradually becoming smaller as the strip is unwound. First it will be noted, from Fig. 2, that the path of movement of the pin 215 on arm2l5 is such-that substantially the same amount of check strip ispulledoff the supply roll no mat,- ter what the size of the roll. When the roll is large, this supply can be pulled off by a relatively small and slow movement of the roll. At this time the. inertia to beovercome in starting the roll and the, momentum to be overcome in stopping it are at. their maximum. But the lever on which the pull acts, namely the. radius of the roll, which is. also. the. lever on which the brake acts, is at its maximum. As the keys are depressed, the spring 218. may stretch to. take up the shock of too sudden depression, and to enable the slow and.- small movement of the roll tofollow. This slow and small movement, as. well as the, long radius of the roll, enables a light brake actionto. be used and not a great dealof force. is necessary topull the strip off the roll. The stretch of the spring v applies this force: but does not apply it too. suddenly and thus start the roll too rapidly. Asthe rollbeeomes smaller, its inertia becomes less andv it. must, be. moved farther to pull off the same amount. of strip. At this time the brake operates through a shorter radius, but this is more than compensated for by the smaller mass of the roll. When, the keys are depressed with a. small roll, the spring, 218 may stretch though. it is not. so likely to do so owing to, the. fact that there isless. inertia. to be overcome in, starting the roll and the roll may rotate faster in the pulling-01f action while at the same time it can be stopped quite easily by the brake owing to the smaller mass.

The net result is that, this, combination. and arrangement of. parts enables the required amount of the check strip to, be. pulled off without requiring much force, no. matter whether the roll is large or small and the brake, is efiectivet in all cases. The yielding, connection insures that substantially the sameamount of force will be applied in each case and that it will not be applied too, suddenly in. the case of a large roll nor in any case, if the keys are depressed too. rapidly.

The. check strip is ied forward. to,a new printing position and to. a check issuing. position by means of a pair of feed rolls. which pull the strip past the type-carrying elements as distinguished from pushing it. The lower feed roll 280 (Fig. 2), which is the driven roll, is carried by a sleeve. 28.2. (Fig. 7) journaled on a. stationary shaft 283,. fixed to the side plate 1... The sleeve 282 carries a gear 284 (Figs. 2 and 12) meshing with a gear 285 journaled on a bushing 235 (Fig. 12). The gear 285 supports a spring-urged pawl 286 positioned to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 286 which is mounted on the bushing 285 to rotate with it. Also mounted on the bushing 285 to rotate with it is another gear 281 meshing with the teeth 280 of the sector-like end of lever 209 pivoted on a stud 29! fixed to the side plate I. The arrangement is such that, when the lever 209 is rocked clockwise (Fig. 2), it rotates the gear 281, the bushing 285 and the ratchet wheel 286 counterclockwise (Figs. 2 and 12). During this movement, the teeth on the ratchet wheel 285 pass pawl 286. However, when the lever 209 is moved counterclockwise, the gear 281, bushing 285 and ratchet wheel 286 are moved clockwise, whereupon one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 286 engages the pawl 285 and rotates the gear 281 clockwise to thereby rotate the gear 284 and the feed roll 280 in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 2 and 12).

The lever 209 is rocked by means of a roller stud 292 (Figs. 2 and 3) on its lower end which is acted upon by a cam slot 293 in one arm of the bell crank 228 pivoted on stud 2M and having its other arm connected to the link 226 by stud 221. The bell crank 228 is first rocked counterclockwise by the forward movement of the link 2226 during depression of the amount keys and. then returned clockwise to normal. During the forward movement of the link 226. the cam slot 293 acts to rock the bell crank 228 clockwise to move lever 209 in the same direction. During this movement, no rotation of the feed roll 200 occurs because the pawl 286 of the pawl and ratchet mechanism simply rides over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 286. But. during the return movement of the link 226, the cam slot 293 rocks the lever 209 counterclockwise, whereupon the feed roll 280 is rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 2. This action does not occur until after the roller platen has been moved forward to make the printing impressions.

In order to prevent the feed rolls from being rotated while the check is being torn 01f, a finger 289 (Fig. 2) is provided on the sector-like upper end of lever 209, which finger engages the teeth of the gear 285 as shown in Figs. 2 and 12 to lock the roll against rotation. This finger also prevents overthrow of the feed rolls as its acts to stop their rotation when the parts return to normal, at which time the check strip has been fed the proper amount to permit the check to be torn off.

The upper feed roll 28| is in the nature of a pressure roll. It is journaled on a shaft 300 (Fig. 5) fixed in an arm 30| pivoted on the type wheel shaft 69 and urged counterclockwise in Fig. 5 by a fairly strong spring 302 having one of its ends attached to a finger 303 of the arm 30! and its other end attached to a pin 304 projectin from the side plate I. The spring 302 urges the upper feed roll 28! into contact with the lower roll 280 so that when the latter is rotated the check strip will be fed forward. The upper feed roll 28! may be moved upward to separate it from the lower roll 280 to permit easy insertion of a new check strip by swinging the arm 30I upward against the tension of spring 302.

A tear-off blade 306 is provided against which the check strip is jerked upward to tear off the checks. This tear-off blade should also be movable out of the way to permit easy insertion of the check strip. In the present invention, the

operator can move both the upper feed roll and the tear-off blade by simply grasping the tear-off blade, which projects slightly through the casing of the machine as shown in Fig. 2, and moving it upward. However, since the check strip is torn 01f against the blade 306 by an upward jerk, provision must be made to prevent the tear-off blade from being moved upward when the check is torn off.

Referring to Fig. 5, the tear-off blade 306 is carried by a yoke having two arms 301 and 308 pivoted on the upper feed roll shaft 300. The lower end of the left arm 301 has a forked end normally positioned astride the sleeve 282 of the lower feed roll 280, which sleeve cannot move bodily and which is locked against rotation at the time the check is torn off by the projection 289 that engages gear 281 meshing with gear 284 on the sleeve. The rear portion 30! of this forked end is cam shaped and so proportioned that a substantial upward pull is required on the tearoff blade 306 before the cam portion 307 can be caused to move on the roller 282. This resistance is sufficient to prevent the tear-off blade from being moved upward when a check is torn off. But, if the operator pulls upward on said blade with his finger, he can raise it. As the tear-01f blade is moved upward,'the cam projection 307 acting on the sleeve 282, forces the arm 30| u-pward about its pivot. This moves the shaft 300 upward and carries the rear end of yoke 306- 301-308 upward. The projection 30'! is carried upward also, and it moves to a position where it passes the sleeve 282, thereby permitting the tear-ofi blade to be swung upward about the shaft 300 to the dot-dash position of Fig. 2 Thus, while the upper feed roll i moved upward sufficiently to separate it from the lower roll, the tear-Off blade may be moved farther to put it entirely out of the way and to accomplish another result presently to be explained. After the cam portion 30! has passd the sleeve 282, the upper feed roll and the tear-01f blade are pre vented from moving back to normal under the urge of spring 302 by the engagement of the projection 30'! with the top of the sleeve 282, but the operator can return these parts to normal by pressing downward firmly on the tear-01f blade.

The side arms 301 and 308 forming the yoke supporting the tear-off blade 306 are bent downward as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to form side guides for the check strip. This is best shown in Fig. 2 where it will be observed that the side of the arm 308 is below the line of the check strip. The extra movement of the tear-01f blade heretofore described enables these side arms to be moved high enough to put them above the line of the check strip so that they will not interfere with the side insertion of the strip. Thus, it will be seen that a combination side guide, tear-off blade. and feed roll unit has been provided that provides for eflicient feeding of the check strip and which permits all of the parts to be moved by gripping the tear-off blade. And the tear-off blade constitutes a releasable cam lock for holding the parts in normal as well as separated position.

This same unit also perform an additional function, namely that of locking and unlocking the side cover that encloses the receipt printer. Referring to Fig. 1, the upper part of the righthand side panel of the machine is provided with a hinged ortion 328 which swings outward about a pivot at the rear. Fixed to the inner forward the upper feedroll shaft 300.

when the cover is closed; is directly under a slot 330 .(Figs. 1 and 5-) formed in the, outerend of 7 When the; upper feed roll is. in normal: position, this slot is over the keeper 331 and. the. side cover 328 is locked closed. When the'tear-off blade is grasped. and pulled upward, which cams the. feed roll shaft 300 upward; said. shaft moves to. aposition to free the keeper 33 I. and thusunlock the side. panel cover. This makes itunnecessary forthe opera.- tor-t0. manipulate a lock or a latch to open the casing to. obtain access. to the receipt printer.

He has. no occasion to get at the receipt printer except when he desires to replace the supply roll or adjust. the stripand, for both of these operations, the; upper feedroll should be separated from the lower one and thetear-ofi blade should be in its upper position, Consequently, when he movestheseparts to: the position they should occupy, the side cover is automatically unlocked and he can swing it open. 'li-hetear-off blade thus locks and unlocks the. side panel as well as acting as. a meansfor moving the; upper feed roll: to its positions.andreleasably latching the roll in its positions.

The upper feed roll: ZB-l is mounted in anovel manner to promote a straight and uniform pull on the check strip. Referring to Fig. 4, the shaft 300 is provided with a centrally located rib- 3Illhaving a. larger diameter than the main portion of the shaft. The bore of the upper roll 28-! has a. diameter substantially equal to the diameter ofthis rib Toward each of its ends, the shaft 300 is provided with elliptical ribs 311. havinga diameter-in a horizontaldirection substantially equal to. that of thecentralrib but a considerably reduced diameter in a vertical direction. This. mounting; permits, the ends; of the feed roll 28! to rock up and down slightly relative to shaft 3% but does not permit them to move appreciably backward and. forward. relative, to, said shaft. Inrotherwords; the upper roll can, rock, slightly about rib 3m in a. vertical plane through thelongitudinal axis of: shalit 300: but cannot.- move, appreciably-- ina' horizontal plane through saidaxis. The knurled; or: gripping portions of the feedroll are in the. form of twoknurled outer ribs 2 ,8; l -positioned toward the outer: ends of the feedroll 281': The upper feed roll mayadjustyitselr so that the ressure: eithetwo ribs; on, the; check stripis equalized to thus cause the same pull= to be, exerted on; the two sides of the. strip. thereby tending to; pull the strip straight forward.

Another form. of. construction. for; the upper feed roll-is shown in Fig. 21. In this form the feed roll. 23! is. simply; journaled on. the shaft 3110 without: any special mounting. A. single knurled. outside; rib 28H is-centrally located; on the feed roll: so as. to. exert a center pull on the. strip. It has been found. that; this center null. not. only tends to: pull. the: strip straightforward, but it. tends tobring it back-into proper alignment; between the' side guides Bill. and 3-98 when the. check: has been. skewed slightly by tearing on a check in an incorrect manner. Also, this construction avoidsv the expense of a special mounting and eliminatesthe necessity. for the. careful adjustment of the construction shown in Fig; 4.

The check; strip. mechanism. not only makes.-

the check strip. more accessible than in prior constructions; but: italso almost; entirely eliminates the jam- 'ng; of; the strip,- aidifiiculty that has been encountered: inaprior machines. The.-

, 2538.05.25)? Side of s. cover sa finger or keeper; 33%| which,

location of the receipt printing mechanism on the outside of the side platemakes the entire mechanism. generally accessible. Next, it will benoted that, in the normal position of the parts shown in Fig. 2, there are no obstructions.

beneath the sets of type-carrying elements. The roller platen 2H while slightly beneath the data? type-carrying elements, is separated from them and slightly to the rear. This is in contrast to prior mechanisms where the platen and other parts are directly beneath the type-carrying elements, leaving only a minute space into which the check. strip must be carefully and tediously pushed or threaded. The absence of a. strip-tensioning device other than the stud 216, and of a plurality of guide rolls, makes it a simple matter to. place a new check strip in position. It. is not necessary to thread the strip around a spring-held inaccessible tensionv device or around a plurality of staggered guides. The check strip is simply brought around the stud 215 (Fig. 2) and then inserted from the side in position. over the roller platen 2 ill. At the time, the feed. rolls, the side guides. 30 i and 308, and the tear-oft blade 306 are in an elevated position where they do not interfere with the side insertion. In other words, all the operator has to do is to put a supply roll. on-the stud 2'70. and thenpull asmall. part of the check strip on and; insert it in position from the side over the platen roller and between the. feed rolls, after which he closes the cover, pulls the tear-off blade down, and the machine isready for operation.

The absence of complicated mechanism also makes it easy to. place a new supply roll in position and this maybe a large roll because of the ample space available. because of the. absence of n-umerousparts in the part of themachine where the rollis located.

This construction also tends. to preventjamming. In the first place it is not necessary to pull the check strip against a tension device or around. rollsor guides against the sides of which the strip tends. to jam. Instead, all that the feed rolls have todo is to pull a loose part of a check strip forward and this-does not require the-rotation of the supply roll. The amount of check strip requiredhas. already been pulled off and all the feed rolls. have to do. is to pull a very light piece of paper forward. This pulling may be slightly resistedby' the arm 215 but it is a light metal part. thatoffers no substantial resistance; besides, while the strip is being pulled forward, the operation of the machine tends to restore: the arm M5 to: normal independently of the strip. and the parts may be proportioned so. that the arm oifers no resistance whatever to the strip. Combined. with the aboveadvantages is the fact that the check strip is moved by a pulling action as distinguished from pushing and that. the only guides for it are the two side guides. adjacent the feed. rolls. Also, there is a. center pull on the strip: so that; if the check isslrewed slightly at the front end byhaving been tQI HvOfi wrong, it need not. ordinarily be straightened, out. because the center pull tends. to automatically pull the strip back to proper position the incipient jamming is automaticallystraightenedout by the feeding mechanism itself. There is nothing behind the pull-feeding mechanism inwhich the checkstrip can jam, the stud; 2J5 tending, to keep the strip sufficiently tau-ttobe; in proper alignment. And the feeding; mechanism can. be operated by a small force 

